Jakarta - Tokyo Love Story
48. A Night Without a Home

"Yes, Roby said he was wearing a brown jacket. He knows you, really. I've been telling you to look at your picture." Edo's voice was a bit calmer now.

"OKAY. I think it was him, Do. He took me to the stop." Kalula replied again.

"Hair is bald, right? High people. Try switching the phone to a video call so I can calm down and talk directly to him." Edo's voice sounded relieved.

Kalula agrees after seeing Roby in closer proximity.

And the guy who was spying on Kalula at the cafe looked breathless the other day. He had run away from the station because Edo was yelling at him so he could quickly find Kalula.

Understand it's night. This big city is crime-prone. Especially for vulnerable people like women. It's only right that Edo is worried.

"Do! Make me a hanger, yeah. Be safe! Kalula is with me." Roby immediately snatched Kalula's phone as soon as Kalula held out the flat object to her.

Kalula just sat awkwardly next to Roby who was in a crunch, panting, while angry.

Jakarta-Tokyo Station. A pair of best friends, Roby-Edo, meet on a virtual screen. Mutual cussing typical of friendship between men. Kalula was just listening next to Roby. He just let Roby who he just met today was swearing at Edo through his cellphone.

Ughhhh! It was fortunate that the bus stop they were sitting in waiting for was deserted. Otherwise Kalula would have panicked himself trying to remind Roby not to talk too loud.

"This. Yes, Kal. Matiin's on the phone. We're leaving now before it's too late. Okay?" Roby held out Kalula's phone and wiped the sweat off her forehead.

Kalula stared at his cellphone which was no longer connected to Edo. He looked at Roby a little confused.

"W-What do you mean, Rob? Edo said I could hitch a ride while at your sister's boarding house. We going there?" Kalula asked in a less understanding tone.

Roby shakes. "My sister's host is far away from your workplace. Edo said you've dealt with the same new boarding place. Just go there. I pay you your boarding money first. You can change later.

It just so happened yesterday that I got a freelance job. Yes it is good. Let's go walk. Near, right? Here's my suitcase." Roby knew he was standing and dragging Kalula's suitcase.

Kalula smiled in relief and carried a small bag containing his personal documents and some belongings. He's following Roby.

Oh, somehow he has to thank me. Roby was even new to him today but he was already this good. Kalula feels haru. Eyes glazed.

"Rob, thank you, yeah. You are so good when we just met. Sorry to have your nicotine." Kalula walked beside Roby while directing the way.

"No papa, Kal. Relaxed. I just got your official acquaintance today. But the story about you I heard from Edo lasted years until my ears were hot.

Tired of the ramblings of the man who told his girlfriend. Don't think about it and take care of that feeling, kid. I think deliberately let me get more upset because I was always single." Roby was also chatty.

Kalula laughs. Roby's face is quite witty as well if he is considered well. Especially with his typical story style.

"He's not gonna be like that anymore, Rob. We broke up." While continuing to walk down the sidewalk, Kalula replied with a slightly sad face.

"Huh? You guys broke up? Seriously?" Roby seems surprised. Until he stopped his steps.

Kalula stopped his steps and looked at Roby with an expression that was difficult to explain.

"Y-yes. We broke up last night." Kalula said slowly.

"God! You know he was as sweet as when he said you had nowhere to stay tonight. Edo was so worried about you and called me every minute I walked in from college. He told me to hurry up for fear of you why.

Seriously, Kal. I thought you guys were still dating. Edo, how dear are you." Roby shrugged and cheered awkwardly. Yes, when I stopped and suddenly talked about this topic, it felt so strange.

Kalula took a deep breath and then shrugged her shoulders.

"What about, Rob. It hurts even if forced to survive. It's different situation. I'm even relieved that we broke up. He was free to set his pace in Tokyo. He's free to be close to anyone from now on without me having to stress myself out of suspicion and fear he's cheating again."

Kalula's explanation makes Roby tight-lipped. Yeah, he knows about that. Edo told me about his own bad behavior in the past. So he understood why Kalula wanted to break up.

"Oh, I didn't mean to interfere, Kal. Lupain is my talk. The important thing is you get a place first tonight. So the front crossroads turn left or right?" Roby quickly switched the chat.

"Right. Come on, night hunt. Thanks again, Rob."

And under the sparkling sky of Jakarta, that night at 9, Roby and Kalula went into an alley and pressed the bell of a building gate that read "Kost Putri Cendana."

***

Shanty was wiping his lips while holding his stomach when he heard the sound of the doorbell being squeezed. He had just been attacked by nausea again and made it difficult to sleep.

Who's the guest of the night like this? His mind lazily walked towards the door to check.

This is her first pregnancy. The endless nausea that appeared and disappeared without knowing the time overwhelmed him. The first trimester of pregnancy made her husband anxious and told her to stop working.

Shanty who is a former aspri aka personal assistant Amelia Santono opened the gate of her mother's house and looked at Kalula and Roby confusedly.

"Who are you looking for, huh?" ask Shanty.

Kalula and Roby looked at each other. Kalula had told Roby earlier that the owner of the boarding house could not be contacted again since afternoon. Maybe because Kalula was late so it was thought he did not become.

Kalula was quite shocked. Why didn't Miss Rudy open the gate? Is this his house? Why this young woman?

"Mmm, sorry Ma'am. I'm Kalula. Last morning I made an appointment with Ms. Rudy if I wanted to spend the afternoon at the back. But I'm a little late and late because there's a little problem." Kalula tried to explain.

Shanty nodded then scratched his head. Ow hell! He doesn't know about this. The problem this afternoon his mother really just went away without telling anything about the boarding boy.

Yes, her mother had received news that her sister-in-law was very ill. Large families are asked to gather. Yes, even though her husband is dead, but Ms. Rudy is apparently still familiar and maintains good relations with her sisters-in-law.

"Ouch. Mama didn't say that. I also don't know where he's putting the keys. Want to call afraid of disturbing because he was waiting for his brother-in-law aka my aunt who is very sick. He called suddenly and left immediately." Shanty was still holding his stomach.

Kalula and Roby looked at each other again. The problem is now half ten in the night.

"Sir, but I need a place to stay tonight. This is proof of my chat with Ms. Rudy. I can give the initial payment to Mommy. Help me, Ma'am." Kalula looked at Shanty with a pleading gaze.

Yes, just now while waiting for the gate to open, Roby gave cash to Kalula as a loan. Really Roby does not want to make Kalula's self-esteem fall by giving the loan money in front of others. Especially in front of the mother.

Shanty looked at Kalula with pity. Yeah, it's too late now. But he really doesn't know where his mother's keys are.

"Mmm, payment later to mama only directly. Don't me. Uh, you guys go in first. It's not good to talk in front of the gate. Later while I try to call my mom.

Oh, ja. What's your name? You want to go to the hostel, right? And who is this?" shanty asked while pointing at Roby.

"Oh, I'm his cousin." Roby smiled to cover up his lies.

Kalula glanced at him then came smiling awkwardly. Ah, how kind and caring Roby is.

"I'm Kalula, Ma'am." Kalula answered.

"Ah, that. I'm Shanty Rudy's mom's son. Okay, okay. Go in yuk first. My phone is inside. Let me call mom." Shanty walks in, followed by Kalula and Roby.

***

Kalula and Roby sit on a sofa in the living room that feels warm.

Shanty, who has introduced herself as Miss Rudy's daughter, goes inside looking for a cell phone and says she will call her mother first.

While waiting Roby seemed busy observing the painting and the length of this unique living room.

Meanwhile, Kalula's eyes were interested in staring at the large suitcase and documents that were lying on his front desk.

The logo on the map is the logo of Gantara Group, aka the Edward family company.

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